Buying and Placing a Toad House

A good toad house should be airy and provide shade and cooling to the toad. It shouldn’t be a "hot box". The house should ideally have no bottom, so the toads can burrow into the soil under the house if they'd like to. If it is a house with a bottom, you can bury the bottom of the house into the dirt a bit, so at least they will sit in dirt and not on resin or clay, but since toads like to burrow, they might find such a house less attractive than an open bottomed one. The toad house should be placed in a shady place, not in the middle of a garden that gets direct sun for 6 hours straight. It would be wise to set the house in the middle of lots of plants or under a bush, that way, its in the garden where the toad can eat all the insects, but its not out in the middle of nowhere with the sun beating it. Remember, toads are nocturnal and avoid sun to avoid dehydration. Also, the house should be near water of some kind, even if you provide the water dish yourself, which is what we do. Toads just like to soak in the water, not swim, so it doesn’t need to be deep but it does need to be refilled often. It will also help if your garden has lots of worms and crickets and other insencts in abundance

A Toad Abode - Do You Need One?

Yes, Toad Houses really do work! OK, so you may not find toads to be beautiful however toads will do some rather amazning things in your garden. Toads can eat thousands of insects from your vegetable garden or flower bed. The majority of the nasty pest insects you are trying to get rid of are insects that are eaten by toads. A toad or two in your vegetable garden is a blessing. Contrary to wanting to get rid of them, you should want to encourage them to come and hang out in your garden. Here are a few facts; a single toad can eat about 110 beetles, ants, June bugs, grasshoppers, slugs, moths, sowbugs, armyworms and other bugs every day. That's around 3,300 every month! Toads are most active at night, so during the day they need a fairly dark, cool place to hide from the sun and predators. Encourage these bug-hungry hunters to have a nice long stay in your garden by providing a toad house. There are many toad house options. One is to make a simple hiding spot by using half of a terre cotta flower pot. The toads can go in it like a cave. It can have its own charm and be landscaped into the design of your garden. You also can buy a toad house.

Stacked Stone Pergolas

Stacked Stone is one of the most popular materials used by lansdscape designers today. In order to keep up with this trend many many companies are developing a outdoor accents to match. One of the more popular is our Stacked Stone Columns. These unique pergola designs are made from the latest maintenance-free materials built to provide years of outdoor enjoyment. Each pergola is hand-crafted with the exquisite detail and style you expect in upscale products. Yardiac also has custom pergolas available as well.

One of Oparah Favorite Things

Everyone has heard what happens to a product once it is endorsed by OPRAH! We finaly are fortuate enough to have one. These candles are warm, ambient LED lights can be left unattended and won't blow out in the wind. The long-lasting Glow rechargeable LED lights are brighter, safer, cleaner, more durable and easier to use than candles. OXO Candela Luau is a portable LED lantern that stays lit up to 10 hours, is cool to the touch, and provides soothing light. On the bedside, at the BBQ, or on the patio, the Luau lantern is practical for everyday use but unique enough for special occasions. Portable and cordless, Luau can be placed on the dinner table and lends a festive accent to parties or evenings outdoors. Thanks for the Free Pub Miss Oprah!

Campania International Products Available @Yardiac.com

Yardiac.com is proud to announce it has become an exlusive dealer of Campania Gardening Products. Campania International Inc, was started in 1984 initially selling terra cotta planters, now the company is an importer and wholesaler of garden related products. There line consist of polyethylene, terra cotta, glazed pottery, cast iron and fiberglass planters as well as classic garden structures and cast resin statuary. Click on the image below to View the exclusive Yardiac Collection

Choosing the Best Wood for Your Home Furnishings

If you are looking for patio furniture, your head may be spinning.  There are more choices now than ever before, it seems.  Here are a few pointers that will set you on the right path:

FSC Certified means that the item you are looking at is certified by the board of the Forest Stewardship Council.  The FSC sets forth principles, criteria, and standards that span economic, social, and environmental concerns. The FSC standards represent the world’s strongest system for guiding forest management toward sustainable outcomes.

Reclaimed wood is a great alternative.  Look for this verbiage when buying any wooden item.  This phrase means that the product is made of scraps, rather than new wood.

Softwood refers to the wood from needle bearing trees.  Hardwood describes wood from trees having broad leaves.  This is not to be confused with the texture of the wood itself.

• Willow, cypress, alder and other trees with pliable branches are commonly used for bent-twig furniture. Willow is especially renewable.  When it is cut, two or more shoots will grow out of the stump of the cut piece. If you use twig furniture outdoors, spray or brush on a good quality clear exterior varnish and use the furniture only in a protected area.
• Pine is an affordable softwood that is harvested in several varieties from around the world.  It is most commonly from American forests. All are yellow with brown knots and are perfect for staining. Pressure-treated pine will last for 20 years but untreated pine has low rot-resistance. It needs to be painted, stained or sealed and stored inside in the winter.
• Tropical eucalyptus is a native of Australia and is prized for its resistance to rot and handsome attributes. It will last decades. Tropical hardwoods will safely weather to a silvery finish over time.  To preserve the original color simply treat twice a year with teak or other furniture oil.
• Roble is a golden, relatively lightweight hardwood harvested mainly from dry tropical forests in South America. It will last up to 25 years.
• Shorea, grown in Indonesia and Malaysia, is stronger and heavier than teak but because of the large quantity available, is usually priced lower. Both jarrah wood and shorea will last up for up to 50 years.
• Jarrah has a reddish or pinkish color and is harvested in Australia from government-managed forests to ensure reforestation.
• Teak is the most desired of all outdoor furniture woods for its honey brown hardwood that is highly resistant to rot and decay.  It will last more than 50 years, even if left outdoors year-round. Teak is now harvested primarily from plantations in Southeast Asia. Dwindling stocks and high consumer demand have combined to make the price of teak soar. The high price of teak has made other tropical hardwoods, such as roble, shorea, jarrah and eucalyptus popular. All of these woods are dense, durable, and stand up well to weather.
• Cedar is a North American softwood, light in color and naturally splinter free. It resists insects, mold, mildew and decay, and it weathers well. With proper care, it can last 25 years. Since cedar is a quick grower, it's a resource that renews relatively quickly.

Atomic Clocks Work for You

Have you ever wondered how time is regulated??  In the United States, the standard of time is regulated by the US Naval Observatory's Master Clock (USNO), the official source of time for the Department of Defense. The effects of these mechanisms are felt by all of us in the form of alarm clocks, computers, answering machines and meeting schedules. Without atomic clocks, GPS navigation would be impossible, the Internet would not synchronize, and the position of the planets would not be known with enough accuracy for space probes and landers to be launched and monitored.

What's the Difference Between a Standard and an Atomic Clock?

The big difference between a standard clock in your home and an atomic clock is that the oscillation in an atomic clock is between the nucleus of an atom and the surrounding electrons. This oscillation is not exactly a parallel to the balance wheel and hairspring of a wrist watch, but the fact is that both use oscillations to keep track of passing time. The oscillation frequencies within the atom are determined by the mass of the nucleus and the gravity and electrostatic "spring" between the positive charge on the nucleus and the electron cloud surrounding it.

Modern radio clocks can be referenced to atomic clocks, and provide a way of getting very accurate time over a wide area.  Although radio clocks are not appropriate for high-precision scientific work, they are perfect for the home and office.  Stores sometimes call radio clocks "atomic clocks"; though the radio signals they receive usually come from true atomic clocks, they are not atomic clocks themselves.  Here's the kicker, though: it gives you the same accurate reading, at a much lower cost.  And, you will never have to think about resetting your clocks after an electrical storm again.  Since radio clocks receive a signal from an atomic clock, they will always show accurate time.  Radio clocks are appropriate for almost any situation and make great gifts for everyone!

Carruth Garden Gifts

Over the past 25 years, George Carruth has become one of America's most collected sculptors. Commissions include custom designs for the White House, the National Cathedral in Washington D.C., HGTV, L.L. Bean and the list goes on.  You might be interested to know that he is the creator of Strawberry Shortcake, as well. 

George Carruth's designs are warm and whimsical.  They display fine details like no other sculptures.   The material is a strong weather resistant stone/cement composition, designed to withstand the most severe weather conditions.  With over 250 different sculpted images, you are sure to find the perfect gift to accent any home, garden or work space .

George has been creating, casting and shipping his original copyrighted designs from northwest Ohio since 1983.  His wife Deborah, is the creative business energy behind Carruth Studio and "Garden Smiles," the retail gallery for George's and many other talented artists works. Together they have enjoyed national success, selling to individual collectors and over 3000 galleries and shops in all 50 states. Internationally, Carruth sculptures have made their way to England, Italy, Japan, Germany and Australia and many other countries. 

This is important, because we are all looking for that Made in America seal, and here it is.  You can feel a sense of patriotism when you give a gift like this.  Not only that, but the designs are fresh and original.  They make a very unique, and personal gift. 

Choosing a Plaque

Plaques are a great way to improve your home's exterior, and are a wonderful gift for a friend or neighbor.  Whitehall Cast Aluminum Plaques from Yardiac.com are the best choice by far because of their durability and timeless style. There are multiple sizes to choose from.  Styles range from simple to complex, and don't forget about wedding plaques!

Each plaque is hand made from rust-free recycled aluminum.  The design is first began from a drawing and then individually carved in wood. From there, customized sand molds are created and molten metal is hand poured into the mold. Once cooled, the casting is carefully cleaned, machine-finished and finally coated with specially formulated fade and chip resistant paint.

Address Plaque Selection Guide
Petite plaques are ideal for smaller wall areas or door applications.  Most standard and estate plaques are available as wall mount or lawn mount. Lawn versions come with one or two 18" stakes, depending on the style.  Standard plaques look great anywhere space allows.  Estate plaques are perfect for the entrance to a larger home, office, or simply a long drive.  Since each personalization is different, we may select an alternate letter or number size to optimize the appearance of your plaque.

In recap, here are the main points to consider in choosing your plaque:

Location
Determining where your plaque is to be placed will greatly aid in selecting the appropriated plaque.

Most plaques are available with two options:
Wall Plaques -- mounted on the exterior or next to an entrance way
Lawn Plaques - Staked in the Ground

Size
Estate -- largest size available in both Lawn and Wall versions
Standard -- available in both Lawn and Wall versions (for most)
Petite -- limited availability in wall only

Energy Saving Tips on Outdoor Lighting

Outdoor lighting is useful for adding security and charm to your home's exterior. But when overdone, it can be costly to operate. Fortunately, there are several steps that can be taken to reduce your energy consumption when it comes to outdoor lighting. Here are some suggestions:

Replace standard current lighting with low-voltage lighting. Low-voltage lighting kits come with transformers that safely reduce standard household current (120V) to a much lower level (12V) for lighting. This works well for secondary or pathway lighting.

Go a step further by switching to solar powered outdoor lights. These lights are easy to install and are environmentally friendly because they provide free, renewable energy by means of photovoltaic cells that convert streaming daylight into stored electricity. The stored energy is then released at night when the sun is no longer supplying power to it. These are particularly useful in remote areas where utility service is not easily accessed.

Outdoor lights that are left on all night may unnecessarily waste energy and disturb wildlife. Therefore, reduce the amount of time lights are on, but not being used, by installing motion-activated fixtures or plug-in outdoor timers.  Solar powered motion sensors and low voltage lighting kits on timers will increase your energy savings even more.

Use tube fluorescent and energy efficient compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) in fixtures not exposed to water or moisture. Although CFLs cost a bit more initially, they pay for themselves by the energy they save over their lifetime, which is significantly longer than incandescent bulbs. Be sure, though, to buy a lamp with a cold weather ballast if you live in a cold climate, since standard CFLs may not work well below 40°F.

Also consider high-intensity discharge (HID) or low-pressure sodium lights. However, both HID lighting and low-pressure sodium lamps require up to ten minutes to start and have to cool before they can restart, so they are not suitable for use with motion detectors. They are most suitable for applications where they stay on for hours at a time.

Finally, light emitting diodes (LED) are highly energy efficient and work especially well for holiday lighting.

Outdoor Wedding Planning

Did you know that Yardiac.com is a great source for outdoor wedding planning? At Yardiac.com you can find a multitude of decorative accents to help you create the perfect setting for your special day. Create a stunning backdrop with any of our garden arbors or pergolas. Set the mood with romantic outdoor lighting. Provide color and style with an elegant planter or urn. In cooler weather, help your guests stay cozy with the warmth and glow of a decorative fire table or patio heater. And who wants bugs at the party? Keep the pests away with our solutions for insect elimination. 

 

Take a look at our top outdoor wedding product picks:

Manchester Arbor

Metal Monument Pergola

Olympic Propane Patio Torch

Tiki Outdoor Heater

Zubri Portable Patio Heater

Bistro Table Patio Heater 

Fill N Chill Party Table

Classic Pedestal

Skeeter Vac

Mosquito Repellent Spray

 

We also have just the right gifts for the bride and groom.

  Wedding Plaques

  Santa Cruz Picnic Collection

  Monogrammed Planters

  Yardiac.com Gift Certificate

         

Click here to browse the Yardiac.com Outdoor Wedding Store.

Wall Painting the Easy Way

It works like a giant fountain pen, taking paint directly from the can and feeding it to the roller. With the Homeright Paint Stick, you control how fast you paint. You can expect smooth, even coverage and best of all it eliminates all the dripping from the old fashioned rollers and paint trays.  It is faster than a Power Roller (Covers 60 sq. ft. per fill) and easy to clean up!  If you haven't tried it yet, you need to.  Yardiac.com carries a full line of refills, making it easy to maintain. 

One satisfied customer had this to say:

I bought your PaintStick and used it to paint our upstairs hall, it was so wonderful my husband who doesn't like to paint used it for the entire job. I went to my 87 year old mother's this summer and not able to find a PaintStick bought something else which didn't work. Next time I'm bringing my PaintStick in my suitcase.

Understanding LED Technology

The history of the LED (light emitting diodes) dates back to 1907. However, the most notable discovery was made in 1962 by Nick Holonyak Jr., while working at General Electric Company. He developed the first practical visible-spectrum (red) LED. 1972 brought the first yellow, and much brighter red-orange LEDs. Shuji Nakamura of Japan accepted the Millennium Technology Prize in 2006 for the white LED.

The first practical use of LEDs came in the form of digital indicators on laboratory equipment and later on household appliances. As technology increased, LEDs gained the capacity of illumination.

There are many remarkable benefits in LED lighting. The lifetime of an LED can extend upwards of 100,000 hours, which is roughly 20 times the expectancy of the best household light bulb (5000 hours). That is twice as long as the best fluorescent lamps (cold cathode CFLs are rated at about 50,000 hours). The traditional incandescent light bulb makes more heat than anything else. Almost all of the energy used by LEDs is converted to light, rather than heat.

LEDs are completely safe to use, and dispose. CFLs (Compact Florescent Lights) contain mercury and other highly toxic substances.

Now that you know the history and benefits of LEDs you can appreciate the initial investment, and long term savings. If you are observant, you will find many items utilizing LED technology, such as home adornments, for inside and out.

Ecologically Sound Patio Furnishings

Finally, a company whose products you can feel good about using in and around your home!  Old-Growth Again Restoration Forestry (OGA) is a "hands-on" non-profit corporation that restores Redwood forests in Northern California. OGA was founded to help change the state of the earth's forests via direct action. OGA believes that by truly restoring and then sustainability managing forest land on a significant scale a real difference can be made in reversing the accelerating global forest degradation, fragmentation and deforestation. With the help of many like-minded friends, the forest products industry can be changed by setting an exemplary example ecologically and economically.

Using "light-footprint" methods developed over many years, ecologically degraded forests are nurtured back into beautiful maturing Redwood forests in a couple of decades. The process works synergistically with nature by using organic inputs, native seeds, no chemicals, etc. With investor partners, OGA purchases degraded Redwood forests and helps restore these titans to grow into sacred treasures for future generations while providing a reasonable return on investment via tax breaks, asset appreciation and eventual sustainable harvesting. As the forest recovers, its ecological and economical productivity multiplies making restoration a good investment.

Old-Growth Again makes respectable outdoor furnishings.  You can make a positive impact just by using their fixtures in your home.  Every conversation their home products inspire is a positive influence on another person.  One person at a time, we can change the way we live and make our world a better place.

The Perfect Beach Umbrella

FiberBuild Umbrellas began producing strong, wind tolerant fiberglass umbrellas, at the start of the new millennium.  You will commonly find FiberBuilt umbrellas in use at hotels, apartment complexes, condominiums, country clubs and restaurants as well as many other locations requiring contract quality products. The nice thing is now, you can have one in your home as well. 

The most notable quality about the umbrellas is the resistance to wind and weather.  Many homeowners who live next to the beach, or in any windy area have problems with wind, and for those in the salty air, rust.  If you fall into that category, take a  moment to consider a fiberglass umbrella.   We have Beach, Garden and Market umbrellas.  There is a style to fit every need.  The best part is that they hold up to the harshest weather conditions: intense sunlight, high winds, salt air and driving rain - and will not decay or lose their shape. 

FiberBuilt Umbrellas feature a unique fiberglass support rib construction that ensures strength, resilience and durability.  The flexible fiberglass ribs absorb wind gusts without breaking and last four to five times longer than traditional steel or wood ribbed umbrellas.

For its inherent strength and longevity, the standard canopies of the Market and Beach Umbrellas are made of marine grade fabric.

LED Address Signs

Address signs are the perfect accessory to any home or estate.  Not only do they provide the finishing touch, but they also offer an important safety and convenience factor.  Having a visible address number makes your home easier to find, wheather it is a courier service or EMS.  Address plaques can be mounted on a column at the end of a long drive, or on the outer wall of your home.  The possibilities are limitless.  One of the best signage solutions is a lighted address sign. 

Since 1993, Carmanah Signs has been designing energy-efficient LED address plaques throughout North America and around the world. More than 50,000 sign installations worldwide attest to the reliability of Carmanah's signs.

Carmanah's easily mounted, extremely robust and environmentally friendly LED illuminated signs offer an aesthetic and functional address solution for any home. Backed by a solid warranty Carmanah's address signs also offer long life, no maintenance, and very low power requirements by using up to 90% less energy than fluorescent bulbs. Choose from six fonts and six plaque styles.

Add curb appeal and beauty to your home today.  Let Yardiac.com help you choose the right plaque for your dwelling.

Caring for your Sonoma Pergola

The Sonoma Pergola brings outdoor living to a new, affordable perspective adding permanent value to your home. Since this item brings your friends and family together, you need to make sure it receives the proper care. Securely mounting to pergola will be your first priority. This model will withstand harsh weather as long as you take all the precautions. It comes with an anchoring system made of stainless steel hardware that will never rust. With this system, each column can be firmly secured to your deck, patio or ground. This process can be done by two people in about 2 hours with a single tool which is included.For extra sturdiness you may order the pedestal base. This pedestal base slides over the post and will anchor with either lag bolts for a wood deck, or masonry bolts for a cement surface. You may also want to check with the building code requirements for footings in your area. There is no way to proof them 100% as such weathers can destroy neighbor hoods, but there you can take precaution to prevent damage as much as nature permits. Like in Florida, some towns are required to pass certain criteria’s. In such cases the customer may connect hurricane straps to the pergola. These are bolted to the ground and bolted together and with these straps they should pass the codes. Not all of Florida requires this, but certain cities are very strict in this area. Hurricane straps are relatively simply pieces of galvanized steel which hold the roof of the structure to the walls. According to building code professionals, lack of hurricane straps is the number one mistake that costs homeowners millions of dollars in hurricane damage. Your local area’s building code specifies the areas in which hurricane straps are required for structures.For general preparedness, you should keep the trees surrounding the structure trimmed at all times. If a storm is approaching, it is unsafe to trim trees as the scattered limbs will become dangerous projectiles in the high winds. Also, loose items that surround the structure should be secured. These items include garbage cans, large planters, and anything that might possibly take flight during the storm. Your final maintenance tip would be keeping the look superb. The pergola is constructed with Chinese cedar wood. The stain on the wood contains as many UV inhibitors as possible, which slows down fading and is also dipped in stain to ensure the best coverage. The pergola loses its stain at an average of 10 percent every year. We suggest staining every third year. Stain colors are very compatible and can be found at any paint store. 2.29.08EKW

Discover the Perfect Umbrella

There are many umbrellas to choose from and based on many different factors, Yardiac offset umbrella buying guide should ease you into our many different options and help narrow down the process. First and foremost customers should always consider the source in which you buy your umbrella. Yardiac.com has been selling offset umbrellas for over 10 years and offers the most comprehensive styles, shapes and color in the industry. We have developed relationships with many different umbrella manufactures to make sure our customers are "covered" and thrilled with their purchase.

Offset Umbrella Selection Tips 

Location     It is always good to know where your location of your new umbrella is going, whether it be in on your deck, poolside, off the wall, or any other great places to put an offset umbrella. The location is the first determining factor of the shape, and size of your new umbrella. When measuring your location be sure account for the base which will normally be weighted down by 16" pavers or by a weighted base (water or sand) that is typically around 24"-36" in length.

Size and Shape     The next step is to determine how what shape and size you would like to fill your desired location. For some a round style will be suffice, while others a square may also meet their needs. When considering shape always be sure you are getting the coverage area you desire. Below is a chart that helps you determine the average coverage, depending on the shape of the umbrella. As you will see that sometimes although it may appear that an 11ft round or octagon umbrella is larger than a 10ft Square, you are actually be getting more coverage out of a 10 foot square model.

 

Umbrella Size and Shape Coverage Chart 

Color and Fabric     For many this is the final step is choosing your umbrella. The color of your umbrella is going to be determined usually by the decor in which the umbrella will be accenting, Yardiac.com is pleased to offer up to 30 different color options, depending on the model of your choice.. The nice part about choosing a color, is that the canopy is usually replaceable in the future if your decor changes, meaning all you have to do is simply buy a new cover. The fabric choice is also a long term choice as well. Buying a new umbrella no matter what style or color will most likely look the same out of the box no matter what fabric you so choose. The caveat to this is that after one season of use some fabrics will begin to fade as they are exposed to plenty of sun. All of Yardiacs fabrics are backed by a warranty that is listed with each umbrella. The best fabric on the market is Sunbrella, and bar none has the best warranty on the market today.

Pole     Selling umbrellas for many years has given us many experiences with many different types of umbrellas and a quick way to eliminate an umbrella when selecting, is to look at the pole specs. A cheap thin pole will ruin an umbrella experience in a heartbeat, no matter what other features. The pole of an offset umbrella requires a lot of strength and stamina. All of Yardiac's umbrellas have been tested to standard, but some are thicker than others.

Tilting     This feature is especially important as we all the know that each location is unique in reference to the direction in which sunlight falls. Being able to tilt your umbrella allows you to directionally shade areas based on the sun, and also as the sun moves, tilt the umbrella accordingly. Make sure if the feature is listed on the umbrella, specs to be sure you are receiving a tilting offset umbrella Choose from our Yardiac Tilting Umbrellas

Rotation     Having a rotating umbrella can be easily as important as a tilting umbrella. Being able to rotate your umbrella 360 degrees, will allow your offset umbrella to be more flexible and used more frequently. For example a customer can buy an offset umbrella, to cover a hot tub, but also be able to rotate the umbrella to cover the adjacent patio, deck, or pool. This feature should also be listed on all Yardiac umbrellas with this feature.

Ribs     The number of ribs an umbrella has will ultimately determine the longevity and durability of your umbrella. 6 ribs is the absolute minimum you would like to see on an umbrella. 8 ribs is the ideal number of ribs on a an offset umbrella. Ribs will help stabilize your umbrella from wind gusts, distribute fabric weight more evenly as well as making the umbrella go up and down faster and easier.

Venting     You will notice that most umbrellas will come with some sort of venting feature on the top of the umbrella. It will be mentioned in the specs if it does include some sort of vent top. Vent tops are important because not only do they provide ventilation to umbrella fabric, but also help prevent lift off (lift off is an event that occurs when a umbrella is left open on a windy day and your umbrella ribs either lift straight up or the umbrella is lifted from the base and flies into the yard). Vent tops are good, but double tops are even better protection against lift off.

Base     Offset umbrella bases come in many different shapes and sizes. Stand alone bases are traditionally distinguished with a T-bar look that requires 16"pavers to weigh the base down. Those pavers can be purchases at most hardware or landscape stores. Other bases available based on the model in which you purchase. Weighted bases are also stand alone bases, that require sand or water to help weigh down the base. These bases are nice because no other material is needed to weigh the bases down after Yardiac delivers the Umbrella. Specialty bases are also available depending on the style in which you choose, those other bases can be ground mount, which uses cement to secure to the ground, deck mount, which screws into decking, as well as planter and wall versions.

Learn about Grilling Safely on a Deck

Fireplace grills are made for outdoor use, but what about on a deck. Better yet, what if the deck has a covered roof, but has open walls. These applications can be done as long as you have taken the correct precautions:

1.The deck should be rated for 400 lbs per square foot. 2. Position your grill on a stable and fireproof surface. If using a wooden deck, use some type of protective "flashing" to shield the wood deck from possible sparks or hot embers that could fall from the fire. You could use a grill pad or install some sort of tile.(an indoor fireplace should also be shielded from the floor by some type of hearth, ceramic tile, etc.). 3. Chimney extensions can be ordered to make the fireplace taller, if necessary, to extend through the roof opening. 4.Proper insulation or separation (air space) should be employed between the chimney and the roof opening. Any licensed subcontractor who works on constructing the roof should be qualified to make this determination. The same considerations are made by carpenters building new homes (with indoor fireplaces) literally every day. The chimney does not get hot enough to be a problem unless the fireplace is overheated significantly with a fire that is much too big! With this application you should also consider the following safety tips: 1. Always have a fire extinguisher on hand. 2. Never leave a burning product unattended, especially around children and pets, and make sure the fire is completely extinguished before leaving. 3. Check your local ordinances regarding outdoor wood burning. 4. When lighting or tending to the fire, make sure hair and clothing are away from the flame. 5. Burn only dry, seasoned wood (not treated wood) and make sure the smoke is not a nuisance to your neighbor 6.Keep all portable hearth products away from combustible material, e.g. outdoor furniture, pool towels, side of house, shrubs, etc. 7. Never use lighter fluid or gasoline to ignite your wood-burning product; use fire starters such as fibercones or lighting nuggets. 8. Be sure to make smores!